5

H.—34a

Canadian cheese, being an increase of 783 tons over the preceding year. The receipts for 1899 were as under at the three chief ports of England: — HnxfK London ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 747,010 Bristol ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 487,476 Liverpool ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 426,364 In Canadian butter Bristol that year took the leading position, importing 4,597 tons, an increase of 827 tons over the preceding year. The relative positions of the three chief English ports with regard to Canadian butter were :— Packages. Bristol ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 158,210 Liverpool ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 105,864 London ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 105,135 To understand Bristol's ascendancy in the provision trade it is necessary to remember the exceptional position of the city and its splendid facilities for distribution. The latter have alreadybeen referred to. As regards population, it is estimated that there are in towns and districts that can be most advantageously served from Bristol the following population : — 850,000 within a radius of 25 miles. 2,500,000 „ 50 ~ 5,000,000 „ 75 ~ 9,500,000 ~ 100 ~ The latter radius includes a number of cities and towns in the centre, south, and west of England, such as Birmingham, -Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Hereford, Reading,' Swindon, Salisbury, Bath, Taunton, Shepton Mallet, Yeovil, and Exeter, which to a large extent receive their supplies of foreign and colonial goods through the Port of Bristol. At present some 60,000 tons of provisions from overseas pass annually through the hands of Bristol merchants, some of whom have branch houses in Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, and London. As showing the progressive character of Bristol trade, the following figures of the registered tonnage of vessels entering the port may be adduced: — Year ending Tonnage of Year ending Tonnage of 30th April. Vessels. 30th April. Vessels 1884 1,244,537 1904 2,116,339 1889 1,326,688 1905 2,078 343 1894 .. .. • .. 1,541,713 1906 .. .. .. 2,112 907 1899 .. .. .. 1,619,397 Of the nature of the goods required by Bristol merchants a fair idea may be gained from the following returns of the quantities of the principal goods imported from foreign countries for a number of years past: —

In the matter of return freights, Bristol can supply many articles of colonial consumption, and already has a large connection with this country in such trade. Three of the largest firms in Great Britain engaged in the manufacture of galvanised iron, tobacco, and chocolate, respectively, have their headquarters in Bristol. In this city, too, are numerous other manufacturing industries, such as tanneries, ropeworks, agricultural-machine works, furniture-factories, and works for the manufacture of bardware, girders, bridgework, wire, locomotives, wagons, railway plant, carriages, clothing, paper, soap, chemicals, oils, pottery, porcelain, boots, hats, millinery, &c, the firms engaged in which are large exporters to the colonies. The Bristol harbour rates, dock dues, and charges for handling, storage, and transport of goods are fixed at such low rates as must

1884. 1889. 1894. 1899. 1904. 1906. ! Grains Flour and meal ... Petroleum Cotton-seed, flaxV seed, and linseed Sugar ... Timber and deals Provisions, — Bacon and hams Butter Cheese Lard... Fruit,— Bananas Oranges and Lemons Quarters Tons tl tt If Loads Tons tt tt Bunches Boxes 2,100,053 28,727 14,296 7,776 52,263 125,075 2,777 438 3,609 1,395 2,637,960 37,834 20,318 24,927 57,786 121,831 3,799 261 8,487 896 3,484,365 59,938 44,974 31,074 62,174 124,448 6,099 1,370 15,977 2,702 3,513,149 65,508 62,256 48,799 76,444 159,037 19,955 4,075 16,637 6,529 4,001,390 67,525 70,021 68,543 73,659i 176,096 3,144,242 30,510 67,756 77,782 83,601 155,928 10,753 5,315 18,232 6,563 9,247 4,048 17,603 4,846 84,990 94,210 120,838 212,614 348,393 238,549 1,239,287 237,386 Oxen ... Sheep ... Number 7,108 11,762 12,650 5,596 8,034 27 16,942 2,835 9,454| 10,185